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i UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

CHARLES E. JACOT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WATCH-KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 9,357, dated October 26, 1852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. JAooT, of the city, county, and State of New York, manufacturer of watches, have invented, made, and applied to use certain new and useful Improvements in Keys for finding Vatches; and I hereby declare that the tollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making part of this specification,

Figure l, an elevation of t-he back plate and key of the watch, with the outer case opened. Fig. 2, is a section of the arbor of the minute hand, and setting stud with the key and back plate also in section. Fig. 3, is a section in larger size of the winding stud, and Fig. l., is a plan of the same, the like marks of reference denote the same parts.

a, is the case ot a watch or similar' time piece with the shank Z), and back plate c. This back plate is thicker than usually made and countersunk to receive a key e, which is formed as a circle at l, and as a screw driver shape or fork 2. This key e, is made of thin metal suiiiciently strong for the purpose and the countersink in the plate c, is of sufficient depth to receive the key flush with its surface, which key is retained in place by the point of a-small spring 4, (see dotted lines.v Fig. 1,) passing up through the plate c, and taking over an incline or bevel on the inner edge of the bow 1, of the key. A countersink 3, in the plate o, allows the nail to be entered beneath the key, which on pulling up the spring 4, is compressed out of the way by its inclined point, and the key is liberated, the object of the spring 4, being merely to keep the key in its place until the back of the watch is closed. And I would here remark that this spring 4, or any similar means may be applied to any other part of the key although I prefer it as herein shown, as long as the spring shall catch over an incline on the key as the key is pressed into place, and slide oft' the incline as it is removed. The key also may be contained in a countersink in Some other position in the back plate o, although I prefer that shown.

The winding and setting st-uds of the time keeper to which this key is to be applied are to be formed as shown, viz., the stud 13, of the arbor 11, of the minute hand is formed with or secured to the arbor 11, (see Fig. 2,)

where 12, is the first wheel of the watch and d, is a part of the bracket supporting the arbor. The stud 13, is made cylindrical and the opening in the back plate is ot a size to set closely around it so as not to admit any dust but not sufiiciently close to cause much friction, and the end of the stud is almost flush with the face of the plate o. Across this stud 13, a chase or groove is cut to receive the end of the key e, which act together similar to a screw head and screw driver; and the lower part of t-he gro-ove may have two holes bored in it to take the points 2, of the key.

The stud 7 of the winding part, shown in Figs. 3, and 4, is similar to the stud 18, and the plate o, also sets closely onto it. This stud 7 is on the square end of the arbor 5, of the fusee or spring barrel; 6, is the ratchet wheel and 8, the click and spring; and to secure the stud 7, and wheel 6, onto the square of the arbor 5, I insert a small screw 9, t-he point of which enters a concavity in the side of the stud 5.

The key e, may be made with two ends as shown by dotted lines, and the ends may be made straight, without the pins 2.

I am aware that watches have been made with a winding apparatus att-ached to the winding stud, and a similar apparatus attached to the setting stud, but I am not aware of any key having been made as shown to take cylindrical studs passing into the back plate of the watch with a groove or chase cut across their ends to enable the winding or setting to be effected by an ordinary screw driver or piece of thin metal, at the same time keeping out the dust from the works of the watch entirely. Neither am I aware of any key having been made as herein shown and placed in a countersink in the back plate of the watch, thereby dispensing with the necessity of a key entirely separate from the watch, which is always liable to be misplaced or lost.

I claim- The key e, retained in a countersink in the back plate c, of the watch by a spring or similar means as herein set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my lsignature this eighteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and fifty two.

CHS. E. JACOT.

IVitnesses:

LEMUEL W. SEREELL, CHARLES TENGELIENT. 

